Williams, Hugh W.: Select views in Greece (Band 1) (London, 1829)

PART OF THE TOWN OF LIVADIA,

ON THE RIVER HERCYNA, ANCIENT LEBADIA.

" Ae£«S/« ^"urTit 07T6V Aio; Tgoputt'ov ftamiov <'2gt)T«< yjurpMTts viroviftov xctTtt£ice-iv Vjffii'
ziraoBiia S' auTo; o %gv)trrr)j>itt^iilu<yo;." StRABO, X.

" At Lebadia is the Oracle of Jupiter Troplionius, constructed
over the mouth of a subterranean chasm, into which the person who
seeks the response descends."—J. P.

" Autumni fere tempus erat, cujus temporis initio circumeundam
Graeciam visendaque quae nobilitata fama magis auribus accepta sunt
quam oculis noscuntur, Lebadias templum Jovis Trophonii adiit. Ibi
quum vidisset os specus per quod oraculo utentes sciscitatum Deos
descendunt, sacrificium fecit Jovi Hercynnaeque, quorum ibi templum
est."—Livy, XLV. ,

" About the commencement of autumn he determined to make the
tour of Greece, and to visit the places, which, consecrated by ancient
fame, derive their interest not so much from what is seen by the eye,
as from what the ear has heard concerning them. At Lebadia, accord-
ingly, he visited the temple of Jupiter Troplionius, and inspected the
mouth of the chasm into which those who consult the oracle descend
to interrogate the Gods. There, too, he offered sacrifice to Jupiter
and Hercyna, who have a common temple in the city."—J. P.

" Ut vidit vastos telluris hiatus
Divinam spirare fidem, ventosque loquaces
Exhalare solum, sacris se condidit antris,
Incubuitque adyto vates."

Lucan. Phahs. V.

" The prophet, marvelling, heard low winds beneath
That wondrous soil oracular voices breathe,
Then plunged into the sacred chasm, and there
Saw mystic sights, and drank inspiring air."

J. P.